Rethinking Food Markets: Insights and Innovations from a Three-Year Initiative
The global food market is at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. At this week’s Science, Innovation, and Policy (SIP) Symposium, from CGIAR’s Rethinking Food Markets initiative in Washington D.C, researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners gathered to reflect on three years of pioneering research aimed at transforming agri-food value chains to enhance inclusivity, sustainability, and efficiency. This two-day event featured a showcase of research findings on the first day and an exploration of policy dissemination and practical applications on the second.
Day 1: Research Showcases – A Global Perspective
The first day began with a compelling keynote by Johan Swinnen, Director General of the International Food Policy and Research Institute (IFPRI), titled Food System Challenges and Prospects for Change: The Importance of Market-Based Solutions. Swinnen highlighted the critical role of market innovations in addressing global food security, reducing food waste, and fostering equitable growth.
The subsequent sessions presented region-specific insights, emphasising the diverse strategies being implemented to tackle food system challenges. Research from Nigeria explored improved logistics that have successfully reduced food losses and enhanced incomes across value chains. A session on digital innovations showcased transformative technologies from Bangladesh and Honduras, where improved product tracing and accessible market information are empowering smallholder farmers and traders alike.
Another standout session examined product quality upgrades and certification standards. Findings from across Africa, including Nigeria, illustrated how these innovations can unlock new markets and build consumer trust. Similarly, insights from Uganda highlighted how digital tools are enhancing traceability and transparency, which are increasingly critical in modern agri-food systems for returning value to producers.
Inclusivity was a central theme, with research from Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Uganda specifically highlighting the importance of inclusive financing mechanisms in fostering sustainable development.
The day also featured a second keynote on Food Standards and Certification for Inclusive and Sustainable Value Chain Development, which explored the challenges of creating equitable systems while meeting the demands of international standards.
Day 2: Policy and Dissemination – From Insights to Impact
The second day shifted the focus from research to actionable insights. Professor Tom Reardon’s provocative keynote, Conventional Wisdoms About Food System Innovations and Policies: Myths and Realities, challenged widely held assumptions about food market dynamics, sparking lively discussion.
An ensuing panel focused on the inclusiveness and employment potential of agri-food value chains. The discussion explored how these systems can contribute to poverty reduction and equitable growth when thoughtfully designed.
One of the highlights was a discussion of findings from model-based scenario analyses across the five research pilot countries highlighted on day 1. These analyses provided valuable data on trade-offs within various policy reform scenarios. A complementary session on scaling preparedness drew on experiences from Ethiopia, Honduras, Nigeria, and Uganda, offering practical insights on transitioning from the same carefully managed pilot projects to broader, less centrally-controlled implementation.
The day also spotlighted practical tools such as the forthcoming KISM guidance notes and the development of a community of practice designed to support practitioners in scaling agri-food value chain innovations. Please join our mailing list here to stay informed about developments there.
Bridging Research and Policy
The symposium demonstrated the power of collaboration in addressing food system challenges. By connecting researchers with policymakers and practitioners, the event underscored the importance of translating evidence-based insights into actionable strategies.
With the insights and strategies shared over the two days, the path forward for food markets appears promising. This event was not just a culmination of three years of research but a launchpad for future collaborations and innovations.
Were you at the symposium? If so, let us know what your favourite session or insight was on the KISM discussion forum here. If not, please let us know what issues you’d like to hear more about or work directly with other food system actors on also on the discussion forum.
Additional resources
Explore the presentations from the SIP Symposium below:
Plenary Session A: Improved logistics to reduce food losses, improve incomes and value-chain efficiency
- Impacts of bundled innovations for cold chain development, food quality, and food loss reduction in Nigeria’s horticulture value chain
- More inclusive business models for cold chain logistics: challenges and opportunities
- Parallel session 1: Digital innovations for product tracing and making market information accessible - I Improving vertical and horizontal coordination in fragmented value chains
- Parallel Session 2: Innovations for product quality upgrading and food quality standard certification - I Introducing improved seed varieties in Nigeria’s vegetable value chain
Plenary Session B: Food standards and certification for inclusive and sustainable value chain development-challenges and opportunities
- Parallel Session 3: Digital innovations for tracing products & making market information accessible – II Raising awareness of about the EzyAgric Digital Platform
- Parallel Session 3: Digital innovations for tracing products & making market information accessible – II Digital innovations for monitoring sustainability in food systems
- Parallel Session 5: Inclusive agribusiness models and market information Improving the bargaining power of smallholder sesame producers in Ethiopia through information and collective marketing
- Parallel Session 5: Inclusive agribusiness models and market information Innovations to improve quality in dairy value chains
- Parallel Session 6: Inclusive agribusiness models and market information Bundling input and cash loans through digital financial service providers in Nigeria
- Parallel Session 6: Inclusive agribusiness models and market information Micro-equity contracts for livestock in Bangladesh
- Parallel Session 6: Inclusive agribusiness models and market information The Unmet Financial Needs of Intermediary Firms within Agri-food Value Chains in Uganda and Bangladesh
Plenary session E: What do we know about the degree of inclusiveness and employment generation potential of agrifood value chains?
Plenary Session G: From pilot to scaling. How to determine scaling preparedness and scaling feasibility? Experience from Ethiopia, Honduras, Nigeria and Uganda